Hot Off the Grill - Handyman Club of America

GEAR
Hot Off the Grill
Create the ultimate DIYer diner with a
gas grill that’s right for you BY ROGER JOHNS
While some folks adopt a slower pace
during the summer, DIYers seem to transform into tireless
home-improvement soldiers, taking full advantage of the
warmer weather and longer days to complete ambitious
outdoor projects. But just as an army can’t march on an
empty stomach, we must frequently refuel to be at our best.
And what better way to take a break and reflect on our
progress than with a home-grilled meal?
To make the most of your downtime and your dollars,
your grill should suit your specific needs. Before you invest
in one, ask these questions: What do you plan to cook?
How many people will you feed? How important is durability?
What special features will you use? Consider the following
tips and trends when you answer and you’ll soon be on
your way to finding the perfect gas grill.
Look what’s cookin’
Regardless of price and special features, the most important
measure of a good grill is whether it will reliably turn out
tasty meals. Think about maximum heat output (measured
in Btu), avoiding flare-ups and controlling temperature.
The Btu rating indicates how fast the grill will heat up
and cook food. A high heat output enables you to sear food
surfaces, which helps lock in flavor. Maximum heat output
ranges from 26,000 Btu for a small two-burner grill to
62,000 Btu for a five-burner outdoor kitchen. Serious chefs
prefer at least 40,000 Btu.
The number of primary burners (the ones under the
main cooking surface) ranges from two for a small grill to
four for a large one. Many grills even offer an auxiliary
stovetop burner for pots, pans or griddles.
The number and orientation of burners determine how
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MANUFACTURERS
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A SIDE OF GRILLING ACCESSORIES
Lightweight tank
Revolutionizing the traditional
propane tank, the Lite Cylinder
Co. has introduced a translucent
fiberglass version that is
lightweight, corrosion-resistant
and rated according to UL and
Canadian safety standards.
Gas gauge
Connect the GasWatch
($20 to $30) to your grill’s propane
tank to easily gauge your fuel level.
The device can also detect
leaks and keeps fuel flow
in check.
Skeeter sprayer
Banish bloodthirsty bugs
while grilling with the Allclear
Cordless Mosquito Mister ($500). It emits
a solution of water and Allclear concentrate,
repelling mosquitoes within 2,000
sq. ft. for six hours.
Rack ’em up
The Weber Style Stainless Steel Rib Rack
($35) features an upright design and
adjustable slats so you can cook various
sizes of ribs and chicken quarters without
taking up valuable grill real estate.
To read more about selecting the perfect grill
or how to tune up your existing one,
go to www.HandymanClub.com
and click on WEB EXTRAS.
you will be able to control the temperature
in specific zones. Some manufacturers
position burners in a single line,
which enables you to maintain uniform
indirect heat by setting the outside
burners at a higher temperature
than the inner ones. Other grill makers
orient burners from front to back,
which provides maximum zone control
from side to side.
Burners are arguably the most
important component of a grill.
However, they are also the most likely
to rust and need replacement. Be sure
to choose a grill with durable stainlesssteel
burners.
Some premium grills offer an auxiliary
searing burner that can reach 700
degrees. This is fantastic if you like rare
steaks or thick sushi-grade fish with a
crispy surface and thick grill stripes.
Sometimes searing burners are positioned
apart from the main cooking
area, either covered or exposed. The
2009 Weber Summit S-470 and S-670
models locate the Sear Station in the
middle of the main burner area. It can
be turned off for standard direct or
indirect grilling without losing precious
grilling space.
When it comes to grates, bare castiron
ones hold heat well for searing,
but they rust if they’re not periodically
seasoned with oil. Stainless steel grates
are the most rust-resistant, and porcelain-coated
grates are also good,
though they may chip.
Manufactures take different
approaches to provide for smoke
while avoiding flare-ups. Weber pioneered
the Flavorizer Bar design,
which protects the burner flames with
tent-shape steel guards. Char-Broil’s
Quantum cooking system, which utilizes
infrared technology (photo, TK),
incorporates a perforated stainless
steel tray under a series of inverted-Vshape
grilling bars. This is said to distribute
heat evenly while disbursing
grease in tiny droplets that vaporize
before they reach the burner. Char-
Broil suggests turning the grill on high
for five minutes after each use to burn
off residual grease that might collect
between the bars.
In regard to size, your grill should
be big enough to accommodate your
entertaining needs, not just dinner for
your immediately family. Grill makers
use two measures to compare capacity:
square inches of grilling area and
the number of hamburgers that can be
cooked at once. If you use the squareinch
approach, make sure the manufacturer
is only counting the main
grill area, not the warming rack.
Material things
One easy-to-spot grill trend is stainless-steel
exteriors. Manufacturers
have embraced stainless steel for its
upscale commercial appeal and perceived
rust-resistance, but inferior
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Char-Broil’s Quantum cooking system
utilizes both infarred and open-flame
heat for even cooking with no flare-ups.
Sleek stainless steel (as featured on this Weber Summit S-470, above left) and vibrant
exterior colors (shown on this Char-Broil model, above right) are easy-to-spot grill trends.
stainless steel can dull and rust after a
single season of use. For a more
durable product, select a grill made
with higher-grade stainless steel.
Some grilling aficionados used to
suggest that you bring a magnet to the
store to test the stainless steel used in
competing products. (If the magnet
stuck, the steel was considered lowquality.)
However, new developments
in steel processing have made this test
unreliable.
Some manufacturers specify different
grades of stainless steel used in
their products. (Weber labels grades
that are corrosion-, heat- and weatherresistant.)
But the best advice for finding
high-quality stainless steel is simple:
You get what you pay for.
Since shiny stainless grills have
become the norm on the showroom
floor, you may want to make your personal
style statement with color. Gas
grills have emerged from their blackonly
Model-T days and are now sporting
red, vanilla, forest green, blue and
brown finishes. Colors are often specific
to particular retail chains. For
example, if you like the features on a
model at Lowe’s, you may find an
identical grill in a different color at
The Home Depot.
Small helpful features can make a
big difference in your grilling experience.
For long, trouble-free service,
battery-powered electronic ignition
beats the old-fashioned pushbutton
striker igniters. A reliable fuel gauge is
another must. Blue Ember grills tout a
sonar fuel gauge that pings the
propane tank twice a minute to tell
you how much gas remains. The Blue
Ember iQue model also has an integral
meat thermometer that tells you
when thick cuts and roasts are done
and an interior light for post-sunset
grilling. Its propane tank even sits on a
rolling caddy for easy handling. Some
grills feature built-in smoker boxes to
hold aromatic wood chips.
Many manufacturers offer optional
conversion kits that enable you to connect
their grills to a home’s natural gas
supply. Though this means you will
never run out of gas or have to lug a
20-pound bottle from the filling station,
it will prevent you from moving
the grill around your patio or deck as
the wind shifts. If you do plan to roll
the grill from place to place, pay close
attention to the quality of the wheels
and casters and overall stability.
Whichever grill you choose, be
sure to invest in the best custom-fit
cover available. The cover will protect
the grill from the elements, keep it
clean and add years to its life — and
keep it looking great even when it’s
not in use.
Handyman Club Of America member
Roger Johns cooks up stories from his
home in Rhode Island
SOURCES ONLINE
For online information, go to
www.HandymanClub.com
and click on WEB EXTRAS.
Brinkmann
800-468-5252
Char-Broil
866-239-6777
Fiesta Gas Grills (Blue Ember)
800-396-3838
Lite Cylinder Co.
866-412-5483
Nexgrill Industries Inc.
800-913-8999
Propane Education & Research Council
(202) 452-8975
Sears Kenmore
800-549-4505
TVL International LLC (GasWatch)
(704) 814-0930
Universal Pest Solutions LP
(Mosquito Mister), 888-966-2483
Weber-Stephen Products Co.
800-446-1071
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